TVSquad

Over the span of Hung's first few episodes, Ray Drecker utters a lot of depressing one-liners. Things like "everything's falling apart" and "I used to be a big deal" are common phrases for him. However, as the title of the show suggests, Ray Drecker (played by The Punisher's Thomas Jane) has at least one thing to be very happy about.

The new HBO dramedy is set in Detroit against the backdrop of a financially ruined automotive industry skyline, and as the world crumbles around him, Ray is forced to re-evaluate his life while everything he cares about slowly slips away. It's unsettling and sad, but in some ways, fortuitous ... at least for HBO anyway. Considering the current economic crisis many Americans are experiencing, a lot of people are going to relate to this show. Just probably not to the big penis part.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Am I a terrible person for not wanting to get Andy Richter Controls The Universe? Not that it was a bad show, it wasn't. It's just not one of those short-lived shows where I say to myself, "boy, I can't wait until that comes out on DVD." I can think of many other short-lived shows on DVD that I would buy before I bought this one. But it's good to see it being released.

I have Room 222 on my shelf but haven't watched it yet.

• Andy Richter Controls The Universe - Complete Series
• Charles in Charge - Season 4 (Amazon.com only)
• The Dog Whisperer - Very Best Of

"Eddie loves doing interviews!" is the bubbly e-mail that came to me as I was trying to arrange a date and time for the following interview with comedian Eddie Izzard. That part didn't surprise me; I've read interviews before where Izzard was engaging and expansive on all sorts of issues. The surprising thing was who the PR person e-mailing me was representing: Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Yes, that's right: Everyone's favorite longshot Presidential candidate has Izzard in his corner as he tries to retain his House seat this week. In fact, this afternoon, Izzard will be interviewing Kucinich at a campaign fundraising event in Cleveland (tickets can still be purchased for the 3 PM ET event). We've heard before that Izzard is interested in politics; but how in the hell did he get involved in Kucinich's congressional campaign? I talk to Izzard about that, and The Riches movie that he seems to think should happen, after the jump.

The Riches was one of those shows that suffered from the p-word: potential. With an interesting story -- a family of Travelers settle into a stolen life as an upper-middle-class suburban family -- and excellent acting performances from Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, the show had the same breakout potential as any of FX's other dramas.

But the show's potential was never realized, either creatively or in the ratings. The show always had trouble balancing dark comedy and intense drama, and it strained to make the audience care about the Malloys, who were dealing with the consequences of stealing the American Dream. At the end of its aborted second season, FX had not committed either way to bringing the show back. Well, now we know: Mike Ausiello of EW confirmed yesterday that The Riches has been cancelled.

HBO has found the lead for one of their roughly 658 new "Hey, remember how we used to have good TV shows before we started giving you crap like John From Cincinnati? Huh? Do ya?" pilots.Thomas Jane (The Punisher) has been tapped to star in Hung, a one-hour dark comedy about a middle-aged high school basketball coach who figures out a way to use his best asset. Now, I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that the title doesn't mean that his best asset is his ability to tie a wicked hangman's noose.

Hung is a top priority at HBO, as new entertainment president Sue Naegle has made the spec script her first major purchase and first pilot pickup. Written by the creator of The Riches and directed by Oscar winner Alexander Payne (Sideways), Hung marks Jane's first regular TV role. He has, of course, previously made TV appearances, including a stint on wife Patricia Arquette's series, Medium.

Another day, another list of 10 semifinalists from the Emmys. This time, it's the Best Actor in a Drama.

There are a lot of the usual suspects on the list (which will be knocked down to five nominees in the next round), including actors from Dexter, Mad Men, Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, and House. One show that's not represented is Lost. I thought Matthew Fox did some great work this season, especially his drunk/screwed-up scenes.

After the jump, the list of the ten semifinalists (also check out those in contention for Best Actress - Comedy, Best Supporting Actor - Drama, Best Comedy, and Best Drama).

It seems that everything comes to HBO eventually, and now they're proving once and for all that size really does matter.

In development is Hung, a series revolving around a well-endowed guy who figures out a way to use his sizable assets. A former high school sports legend, now he's slogging through middle age as a dad and high school basketball coach. Things start looking, uh, up when he creates a scheme to add some zest into his life.

Although further details are sketchy at this point, I keep thinking about Weeds, only in this case, maybe it's about a dad who ventures into adult-oriented territory to keep food on the table and pay the bills. Anyone have further intel? It's HBO, so anything is possible.

• At 8, ABC has a new According To Jim.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then a new Big Brother.
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell's Kitchen.
• The CW has a new Beauty and the Geek at 8, followed by a new Reaper.
• There's a new Nova on PBS at 8.
• At 9, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then a new Boston Legal.
• Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9.
• Lifetime has the new movie Queen Sized at 9.
• Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 9, followed by the season premiere of Work Out.
• Sundance has Big Ideas For A Small Planet at 9.
• MTV has the season premiere of Tila Tequila: A Shot At Love 2 at 9.
• Also at 9: BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing.
• At 10, NBC has a new Law and Order: SVU.
• FX has a new episode of The Riches at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new According To Jim.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, followed by new episodes of Big Brother and 48 Hours Mystery.
• NBC has the two hour season finale of The Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell's Kitchen.
• There's a new Beauty and the Geek at 8 on The CW.
• TCM has the premiere of Role Model at 8, with Alec Baldwin interviewing Gene Wilder. It's followed by The Producers.
• Discovery has a Best Of Deadliest Catch Season 3 special at 8, followed by two new episodes.
• At 9, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then a new Boston Legal.
• PBS has a new Frontline at 9.
• BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
• At 10, FX has a new episode of The Riches.
• Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
• HBO has a new Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel at 10.
• Also at 10: Sci-Fi has a new ECW.
• At 10:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons' Family Jewels.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has two new episodes of Just For Laughs, followed by new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Boston Legal.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then a new Big Brother and Secret Talents of the Stars.
• FOX has a new American Idol and a new Hell's Kitchen.
• The CW has a new Beauty and the Geek at 8.
• PBS has a new Nova at 8.
• At 9, Food Network has a new Chefography on Wolfgang Puck.
• BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
• At 10, FX has a new episode of The Riches.
• Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
• Sci-Fi has a new ECW, also at 10.
• MTV has a new Life of Ryan at 10, then a new Rob & Big.
• There's a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern at 10 on Travel Channel.
• At 10:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has two new episodes of Just For Laughs, then a new Dancing with the Stars and the special Live To Be 150...Can You Do It?
• FOX has a new American Idol at 8, followed by the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen.
• NBC has a new, two hour Biggest Loser at 8.
• The CW has a new Beauty and the Geek at 8.
• At 9, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• There's a new Frontline on PBS at 9.
• BBC has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
• At 10, CBS has a new CSI: Miami.
• FX has a new episode of The Riches at 10.
• Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
• MTV has a new Life of Ryan at 10, followed by a new Rob & Big.
• Also at 10: Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
• At 10:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons' Family Jewels.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, FOX has a new American Idol, then a new 'Til Death.
• ABC has two new Dancing with the Stars episodes starting at 8, followed by a new Primetime: What Would You Do?
• NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8.
• There's a new Beauty and the Geek on The CW at 8.
• Also at 8: TCM has The Dark Past.
• At 9, CBS has a new Big Brother, followed by the series finale of Jericho.
• PBS has a new Frontline at 9.
• At 10, FX has a new episode of The Riches.
• Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
• Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
• MTV has a new Life of Ryan at 10, followed by a new Rob & Big.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, FOX has a new, two hour American Idol.
• ABC has It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown at 8, followed by new episodes of Just For Laughs and Dancing with the Stars, and then the series premiere of Miss Guided.
• NBC has a new, two hour Biggest Loser at 8.
• The CW has new episodes of Beauty and the Geek and One Tree Hill.
• TCM has Harvey at 8, followed by What's New Pussycat?
• At 9, CBS has a new Big Brother, then a new Jericho.
• BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
• Nick's week-long George Lopez Show marathon continues at 9.
• At 9:30, HBO has a new In Treatment.
• At 10, FX has the season premiere of The Riches.
• Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
• Also at 10: MTV has a new Life of Ryan.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Well it's about time. According to Ausiello over at TV Guide, FX plans to air the final 13 episodes of The Shield starting in September. Originally set to air starting in April, the final season was completed before the writer's strike hit. However, it still affected the show.

The strike cut short the most recent seasons of Nip/Tuck, Dirt, and The Riches. Nip/Tuck's finale aired a few weeks ago, Dirt just premiered this past Sunday, and The Riches returns next Tuesday, March 18th. Because of the truncated seasons for Dirt and The Riches (each finished only seven installments), they moved up in the schedule to March/April, displacing The Shield.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow:

• The All-New Super Friends Hour - Season 1, Vol. 1
• Between the Lions - Season 1
• Clifford The Big Red Dog - Playtime with Clifford
• Family Feud - All Star Family Feud with Richard Dawson
• Gunsmoke - Season 2, Vol. 1
• Lovejoy - Season 2
• MI-5 - Vol. 5
• The Naked Brothers Band - Season 1
• The Riches - Season 1
• Two and a Half Men - Season 2
• The Waltons - Season 6
• What's New Scooby-Doo? - Season 3